Having explained the peculiar forms of his improved metallic shanks for buttons, and the tools employed in making the same, he proceeds to describe the machinery or apparatus by which he intends to carry his invention into effect. He proposes to take a sheet of metal, say about 30 or 40 feet long, and of the proper width and thickness; which thin sheet is to be wound upon a roller, and placed above the machine, so that it can be easily drawn down into the machine as required for feeding the punches and dies. [Fig. 210.] is a plan view of a machine, intended to work any convenient number of sets of punches and dies placed in rows. Eleven sets of punches and dies are represented, each set being constructed as described under [figs. 197] to [204]; [fig. 211.] is a side view, and [fig. 212.] a longitudinal section, taken through the machine; figs. 213. and 214. are transverse sections taken through the machine between the punches and counter dies, [fig. 213.] representing its appearance at the face of the punches, and [fig. 214.] the opposite view of the counter dies. a a, are the punches; b b, the counter dies; each being mounted in rows in the steel plates c c, fixed upon two strong bars d and e, by countersunk screws and nuts, the punches and dies being retained in their proper position by the plates, which are screwed on to the front of the steel plates, and press against the collars of the punches and dies. The bars d and e are both mounted on the guide-pins g g, fixed in the heads h h of the frame, which guide pins pass through the bosses on the ends of the bars. The bar d is stationary upon the guide pins, being fixed to the heads h h, by nuts and screws passed through ears cast on their bosses. The bar e slides freely upon the guide pins g g, as it is moved backwards and forwards by the crank i i, and connecting-rods j j, as the crank shaft revolves. The sheet of thin iron to be operated upon is placed, as before stated, above the machine; its end being brought down as at a a, and passed between the guide rod and clearing-plate k, and between the pair of feeding-rollers l l, which, by revolving, draw down a further portion of the sheet of metal between the punches and dies, after each operation of the punches.